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Grateful DeadGrateful Dead Live at Boston Garden on 1977-05-07 (May 7, 1977)

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Collection: : GratefulDead
Band/Artist: Grateful Dead
Date: May 7, 1977 (check for other copies)
Venue: Boston Garden
Location: Boston, MA

Source: Soundboard
Lineage: SBDMR > PCM > DAT > digital emphasis decode > D->A conversion > DBX Decode > digital mixing console (level adjustments > DAT > DAT (master clone)> WAV > additional editing (AUD patching, pop/glitch removal, etc.) > SHN. Digital encoding and DBX decoding b
Keywords: Live concert

Description

Bertha, Cassidy, Deal, Jack Straw, Peggy-O, Minglewood Blues, Mississippi Half Step-> Big River, Tennessee Jed, The Music Never Stopped Terrapin Station-> Samson & Delilah, Friend Of The Devil, Estimated Prophet, Eyes Of The World-> Drums-> The Wheel-> Wharf Rat-> Around & Around, E: U.S. Blues

Individual Files

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Reviewer: Klaus A. - - May 27, 2008
Subject: Stellar Wharf Rat
What an psychedelich, emotional trip, Jerrys voice, his Gituar,unbelieveable!!!

Reviewer: mgford25 - - May 17, 2008
Subject: To Each His Own
For me, this is Keith at one of his zeniths. His contribution in Wheel > Wharf Rat is spectacular. If you're into Keith grab this, and don't forget 7-18-76, 4-8-72, and 12-10-71 . . . to name just a few. He's alive throughout 71 and 72, and there are other dates too numerous to mention, but on the above boards you can hear him very clearly.

My only complaint about sound, if we're quibbling, is why all the vocals on these 77 boards sound like they've gone through a couple levels of reverb. They must have switched to a different microphone configuration for the leads (perhaps more than one mic or a mix with a more distant placement?) because the vocal quality, its distance or "thinness," is very different from some of the fat 76 vocals. In any case, 5+ show, still stellar sound. I'll take shows like this anyway I can get them. One of the best of 77, for sure. The other Charlie Miller board is probably your best bet for absolute highest quality.

Reviewer: skr213 - - April 3, 2008
Subject: Great Show but ...
This is a fantastic show, but Keith's oversimplistic 1-3-5 trinkling is driving me absolutely crazy. For being a member of an improv driven band, his child-like contributions bring everything down a notch.

Reviewer: marcus.butler - - March 23, 2008
Subject: Enduring Dead
Vintage year, superior sound quality.

- boulder butler

Reviewer: RFKROX - - February 20, 2008
Subject: Best show of 1977!
LawrenceT wrote: I would give it a 2 but it just doesn't cut it.

Dude, you need to have your head examined and check into a psychiatric ward! You have absolutely "NO CLUE" how to rate an awesome Grateful Dead show!


Anyone that gives this show less than 5 stars needs to have their head examined!! There is a reason why this show has been downloaded 308,000+ times (2nd download for this show on archive.org). The 1st download (Bertha remaster by Rob Eaton, The Wizard, and Jay Ashley) is the best-sounding version, so download that one. There is some extra tuning/equipment problems before and after some songs, but that only makes this concert better than all the others. And believe me, this was “no warm-up” for Barton Hall. In fact, the Boston Garden and Buffalo Memorial Auditorium book-end shows were the best shows of the 3-night stand, IMHO. Yes, Barton Hall is good, but the audio and quality of the Boston Garden show is off-the-hook!!

The Barton Hall show was downloaded 126,000+ times. Compare that to the Boston Garden show that was downloaded 308,000+ times. I have the Palladium 4/30 flac (lossless) show that I purchased from the deadnetstore.com. The quality is out-of-this-world! Guess what? The quality from the Boston Garden show sounds almost, if not as good, IMHO (and it’s not even lossless).

Now for the show… First of all, forget about the equipment repairs that last several minutes in between some of the songs. They only helped the perfection of this awesome concert, as well. When you burn your _vbr.mp3’s to disk, you don’t have to burn the equipment repair fillers, anyway. The 1st set is as good as any 1st set I’ve heard. Bertha – Cassidy – Deal – Jack Straw is smokin’! Peggy-O is definitely a top-3 of all time, and New Minglewood Blue sounds better than the Barton Hall version, without a doubt!

Now we get to Mississippi Half-Step. Another user stated he thought the best Half-Steps were from ’80 and ’81 until he heard this one. I couldn’t echo that any more! This Half-Step is without a doubt, the fucking bomb!! I have “NEVER” heard Garcia’s guitar transcend my mind like it does on this song! Absolutely, breathtaking! If anyone can find a better Half-Step, then I’d sure like to know! It actually reminds me of Jerry’s guitar on the Dark Star from “Live Dead”. It’s that good, folks!! Big River, Jed and TMNS round out the 1st set, that just doesn’t let up!

And the 2nd set is about as good as I’ve heard for a 2nd set. Terrapin into Sampson just blows me away! Friend of the Devil and Estimated Prophet will have you jammin’ no matter what you are doing. Eyes of the World is very good and Drums is not drawn out, but Eyes is certainly not a top-10. However, The Wheel leading into a 15-1/2 minute Wharf Rat is ridiculous and one for the ages! Around and Around is solid, but the U.S. Blues culminates this show into a top-5 show of all time, IMHO. By the way, Jerry breaks a string before U.S. Blues, but fixes it before the finale.

People have commented on the equipment problems during this show. As far as I’m concerned, it only made this show better because so much tuning was done before most songs that only made the songs sound that much better! The only minor flaws in this show is a slight “feedback” at the beginning of Bertha, and Jack Straw only lasted 5 minutes. But that is me just being picky! LOL

Go listen to Barton Hall, and then listen to Boston Garden. If the 5/7 Boston Garden had a version of Scarlet > Fire from the 5/8 Barton Hall show added to the 2nd set, then this Boston Garden show may have been the best show of all-time! Definitely would have been the best show in 1977. If they only could have played Good Lovin’ after Bertha before Cassidy! OMG!! Can you imagine that??

Danny from Northern Virginia outside of Washington, D.C.
East-Coast Deadhead
rfkrox44@hotmail.com

PEACE-OUT!

Reviewer: LawrenceT - - February 20, 2008
Subject: Its ok
I would give it a 2 but it just doesn't cut it.^.

Reviewer: WolfmansBrother - - February 13, 2008
Subject: being obstinate, eh? don’t wanna work, eh? why I oughta…
i though when the wall of sound and its “insects” were retired that the equipment issues went away? first set momentum certainly compromised by the incessant tuning and nailing by mickey and billy, but i’m so goddamn baked i could give a rat’s ass.

so, a dozen nights into this tour, the boys and donna just sound better and better each night. while everything in the first set sparkles, deal has been gaining momentum with each playing and mr. lesh, again, shines on this tight version. jack straw #2 of the tour is another highlight. And half step>big river is just ridiculous and jerry and co. just own it! MNS was made to close the first set, and this one is pissah!

terrapin finds an untested spot as the set opener and a rousing samson gets us juiced. a soulful FOTD cools us off before we get to the meet of the set. (yet) another impressive estimated, which clearly has the reverb just exactly where they want it based on this amazing jam. after some more tinkering (and my blowing my umpteenth bone of the night) they launch again, and jerry and phil are just staring each other down as they try to outdo each other in eyes (with keith, bobby and drummers in hot pursuit!). wheel and wharf rat both blow my already blown mind, and the last two songs are just what the doctor ordered.

i head to the door to start thumbing a ride – it’s a long fucking way to Ithaca. i hope it’s worth it.

Reviewer: gratefuly deadicated - - January 17, 2008
Subject: hitdrag check your email !
i sent you an email with an invite to a grateful site and the web address to a few others hope this helps you out, enjoy and im sure you will have all your music back soon, next time just put all your hard drives in a safe along with your computer !!!

Reviewer: hitdrag - - January 15, 2008
Subject: please help me guys and gals
looking at all the reviews I can tell there are some very good people out there and I was wondering if anyone would help me. I have spent the last thirty years going to shows and trying to be a good dead head helping people,going that extra mile when there is a person in need. I came home and all my pc stuff was gone???? They could have left my extra hard drive that I have been working on for years to get shows and its all gone> Will anyone out there help me start to get some of my music back???? Take anything but not my dead please!!!!! ajak58@msn.com

Reviewer: JustinMusic - - December 26, 2007
Subject: WOW
Wow, this is a great show with almost everyone of my favorite songs. The only thing about this show that is missing is Scarlet Fire. The Bertha makes the show worth downloading. I love this. You will to. I mean, how often do they play The Weel.

Reviewer: TruthSpeaker - - December 11, 2007
Subject: Phenomenal
This show is incredible... they play so many of my favorite songs on here too.

One of my favorite Scarlet's and the Music Never Stopped on here is bar far the best.

Epic show..... the reason why there were so many tune-ups is because Jerry and the boys wanted to make sure each song sounded perfect. That's why there is a tune-up before each song.

Reviewer: lazylightning101 - - November 23, 2007
Subject: Where to download.
Go to www.nugs.net do download this poppin show. One of May's finest. If that doesn't work i will send you a copy of the show. Email me back at wcooney101@msn.com. Good luck and enjoy the show.

Reviewer: gforty - - November 20, 2007
Subject: The sound is incredible
The sound is so incredible on this recording.

People keep posting saying that this is the best concert that they have downloaded....
question is, how can I download it?
Appears to only be available in streaming format.

Thanks

Reviewer: JamminJerome - - November 18, 2007
Subject: Does it get any better than this?
Well, okay, maybe it does. But shows like this don't come around often. This is one of those special shows where the boys were ON. Of course, in May 77 that was the case pretty much every night. The Wharf Rat here sent shivers down my spine. Terrapin Station is spot on, and the Peggy-O is one of the finest you'll ever hear.

Perhaps one of the most remarkable things about this show is the sound. Many SBD shows sound flat, but this one has very rich and full sound.

Reviewer: Birchola - - November 16, 2007
Subject: sound quality is a 5
best dead show i have downloaded in a long time..77 is my fav yr and this is possibly the best from 77...dont pass this by and ownload it now..

Reviewer: DarkAura - - November 6, 2007
Subject: One Thing I Have To Say...
One Thing I Have To Say... I love Donna in this one... She sounds so good... I love the slight Reverb also... Rules.... Mike T

Reviewer: vabeauty - - October 31, 2007
Subject: I looooooove this
What an awesome show and I am always looking for a hot Bertha. :)

Reviewer: grateful kev - - October 21, 2007
Subject: great show!!!!!!!!
1977 is one of my favorite years for the dead.... so many great shows you can go to NUGS.NET and download a pretty good version of this plus a whole lot of other great music some not
available on this wonderful site......

Reviewer: FlyinEddie - - September 28, 2007
Subject: May 1977 A Month Of Special Music
As I listen to this show I get a vision of Garcia smoking a cigarette, facing his guitar rig, turing the wheel on his tuner...Bob walks over and says something and they start to talk. Now Micky is standing leaning over his kit and listening. Keith looks to be asleep waiting to play at the piano. Bobby walks up to a mike says something about ..."until its exactly right".. and Phil plays a loud rif the sound of chords and notes and cymbols and the crowd roars, whistles, guesses and pleads for another song. 10 minutes later are we closer to a song? No ones that worried. I know I can wait...Sorry but one thing that makes this recording so good is the real feel of repairs/tuning. Back in 77 there was a lot of time between songs. But when they played...OH MY. What a Month...what a show. Thanks

Reviewer: Chiefwigumsboy00 - - September 20, 2007
Subject: Great
Sounds awesome.

Reviewer: Zaorish - - September 19, 2007
Subject: A fool and his SBDs are quickly parted
Did it ever cross your mind that if you blatantly post how to steal the SBD in your review that SOMEONE from Rhino might just browse by and flip his shit? Maybe even REMOVE ALL STREAMS??? Please. At least talk about it somewhere else!

Now for the show.

The sound on this show is not believable. It is impossible. It is a fucking miracle. That is why I say that God blessed Jerry & the boys. (I really like recordings with echo/reverb) Jerry is on fire, but notably Keith is also on fire here, which is rare for him in 77-78. If you love true beauty removed from all other things, get this sbd however you can.

Reviewer: Phil Diamond - - September 15, 2007
Subject: Good Lord
The sound is so good on this. The Cassidy IS SMOKING. Donna is singing perfectly with Bobby.
I must go look for this on bt.etree.org

Reviewer: hogwash - - August 30, 2007
Subject: beats 5/8 imo
i know 5/8/77 gets all the hoopla but man oh man, this one kicks 5/8's butt. all the equipment problems & such do detract from it, and i suspect that's why it doesn't get as much attention as the cornell show, but it's easy enough to skip over those tracks. listen to it. this is the Dead at their very peak. i've always been a little iffy on 5/8 being the greatest show ever as i think they really played it safe that night. everything is well executed but there are no risks taken. this (5/7) is THE night...and THE show. there are those moments where they take off and you're not sure if they're going to make it back in one piece and miraculously, they pull it off. with Garcia's guitar leading the way. very cool early (i think?) Terrapin. grab it, it's amazing.

Reviewer: skeleton and roses - - August 28, 2007
Subject: sound quality is astonishing
and the dead were on--dead on--that night.

Reviewer: bacculus - - August 15, 2007
Subject: WoW
Wow. Used to be that a recording studio was where you made a pristine recording. Well, take your studion version of terrapin Station and destroy it. It's embarrasing compared to this. This should be put on board the Voyager deep space probe to demonstrate the best of late-70's Dead to freaks in other solar systems.

Reviewer: Burnt Rich - - August 1, 2007
Subject: Shangri-La!!!!!!!!!!
No matter how many times this show is played in my life----it will never fail to just floor me. No matter how many times!! I scored the Betty Board on a Maxell @ Stevens Pass Ski Area one night. I was a night lift operator--we ran the lifts until 10:00 pm every night......I figured scoring this sweet 2nd set Boston Garden show warranted an early night off from my duties. Called the boss--night was slow--got off work early and headed back to the old Alaskan camper in the overnight lot--one of only two residents in that lot in those days. Ate a quick dinner and then threw a couple doses on the tongue,grabbed the Walkman and the 213cm Kastle Super G's and hit the slopes about 6:30 pm......Holy Sheep Shit!!!!! Never mind the fog-marine flow in the Cascades and the night lights and frost crystal maddness!! When that Terrapin came out swingin'---I was peakin and OH MY GOD!!! WHAT KIND OF ENERGY IS THIS!!?? Big ol' Samson and then I just melted to the SWEETEST, SWEETEST Friend of the Devil---by Estimated I was GONE!!! Wheel...Wharf...This show will boggle your senses---sorry for the tale but you never can forget the first time...this show is HOLY!! That show, the doses, the 3 1/2 hours of solo night skiing playing this tape over and over for the rest of the season...so beautiful, this night @ Boston Garden--so beautiful!!! Thanks for the clarity to the uploader deity!!

Reviewer: Jeff62959 - - July 29, 2007
Subject: Fantastic show and recording
This is way up there in my best of list. lots of tuning chops it up a bit but this show rocks! great estimated prophet jam.

Reviewer: stacgre - - July 5, 2007
Subject: I need this!!!!!
I am a recent greatful dead fan. got introduce through a great cover band here in Chicago (Mr. Blotto) and after a Phill and friends shows and a couple DSO shows I had to start listening to the real thing!

just found this jem and listening at work, but it will only stream...how can I get this keep permenantly??? please help.

Reviewer: jlglex - - July 3, 2007
Subject: Only One Half-Step From Mississippi to Boston!!
WOW!

The best half step I have ever heard. Sent shivers down my spine. They were really tight, but still jammed very creatively. Really sweet sound, too. This Half-Step has now moved Half-Step up on my list of favorite Dead tunes.

Reviewer: bencterry - - June 30, 2007
Subject: they're a band beyond description...
As a previous poster said, I have had a Betty reel of this show for several years, and to hear a sbd of this show this good is just such a treat. Much has been said of May '77, and every show has unbelievable highlights. In my opinion, the Wheel>Wharf Rat here is absolute peak dead. My favorite Wharf Rat of all time.

For other beautiful may 77 shows, 5/4 is incredibly strong, as are 5/19 and 5/21, and let us not forget the legendary show at The Mosque on 5/25.

5 stars for sound quality, setlist, playing, and energy.

Reviewer: soma4u - - June 14, 2007
Subject: My Favorite Show of all time
Peggy-O is the tits

Reviewer: philphanatic - - June 11, 2007
Subject: smokin' hot
five stars for just about every reason. the boys are on tonight. i cant imagine what it would be like to be here. this is probably the best show ive heard. i think may 7th in boston should be grateful dead day instead of tomorow night. (though tomorow's show in ithaca is great too)

sit back, light up, and turn the volume up all the way and go to a different universe.

Reviewer: Louis1954 - - October 29, 2006
Subject: Boston Garden 5/7/77
I was 23 when I attended this show. We sat behind the stage in clear view of the boys. They played facing each other most of the time, and seemed to enjoy it better than any one at the Garden that night. That night was always a highlight I my life.
If I had a time machine ..this would be my first stop. Every time I listen to this show I still get a chill. 1977 was when the Dead peaked...and this could possibly be there best show that year!!

Reviewer: manicman - - October 16, 2006
Subject: Simply Amazing
AAA sound quality and great show, Mississippi Half-Step is off the charts.

Reviewer: airag - - June 30, 2006
Subject: Holy Mother of God
Listening to this show will spiritually transform your life. I can't even imagine what it must have been like to actually be there! My flesh would have melted off like in the first Indiana Jones movie. My oh my!

Reviewer: NedCat - - May 22, 2006
Subject: Dream Show
This was my 2nd Deadshow after one in NYC and I was 17. Took my younger sister and we both remain dedicated to the Dead to this day. I never dreamed I would hear such a crisp and vibrant version of the show. (My 1st show in 1977..last in 1995)Of all recordings in this time frame?..this one blows the best into the yonder!!! Thanks from my entire family!!

Reviewer: jfolks - - May 16, 2006
Subject: Thanks RobE
Thanks Rob E. for everything you do! Recreating the GD experience like no one else, playing the music PERFECTLY, AND remixing this amazing show into a perfect clean mix. Its a bird, its a plane, no its bobby! No he's SUPER-HEAD!

Reviewer: Crowfriend - - May 7, 2006
Subject: Bueno
This is the show I have listened to over and over. Bertha starts off a little unsure-is it gonna happen tonight?- then Keith hammers on the piano- the entire mood picks way up- Get this one and all others - including tomorrow night's extravaganza- shall pale in the comparison. My unhesitating vote for the bestest first set ever, from any band, anywhere, anytime. ENJOY!

Reviewer: Geoffsky - - October 6, 2005
Subject: Good Show - Really
Crowfriend
Take a cold shower !

Reviewer: wdman - - April 22, 2005
Subject: killer show,sound,crowd,...
This is probably the best show, as far as everything, I have in my collection. The sound quality is perfect. WATCH OUT ->some of these other dowloads dont have the entire show!! This one dose (oops!) does.
Something else to say about this jewel, the entire show is represented here. There are no skips between the songs when the band was "getting ready" for the next song. You hear a little of the crowd screaming in-between songs for them to hurry,but they always took their time. You can close your eyes and get the real sense that you are there. Listening to this I am confronted with those familiar chords while they were working out the beginning of the next song. Everybody would start guessing on what the next song was going to be and the "winner" was the one who figured it out first. What a great time.

My suggestion, get this, play it without looking at the set list, close your eyes, sit on the floor or stand in front of the stereo, fade back, sway, dance, sing, smile, smile, smile.

Reviewer: jamall - - February 19, 2005
Subject: Excellent Job
on the mix here. I had a "tired" Betty C. board that was many generations old. I still played it, b/c in a year of 5 star shows, this one has to be in the top 5. The first set alone is just amazing.
Probably the best "Music" I've ever heard. I know there are other great ones...I would not be surprised to see this as a DP, despite the popularity of next evening's show.

Thanks

Reviewer: Deep Space - - January 25, 2005
Subject: Fantastc Work
6 Stars to Mr. Eaton & Co. for the production work.

I hope that when the time is right some other 77 shows might get a proper going over as far as re-mastering goes. 6/9/77 etc...

A must have for any collector.

Reviewer: Mike Zichella - - November 29, 2004
Subject: Choose this source.
In my humble ears opinion...
This new source sounds much cleaner than the more frequently used muddy Betty board source.

Have a listen for yourself.

Reviewer: adamamps - - November 2, 2004
Subject: Excellent Job
Great remaster. Hope to see more the show is awsome. THanks to all who put in the time

Reviewer: peter teitelbaum - - November 1, 2004
Subject: Thanks Rob and Wiz!
A fabulous upgrade to a fabulous show. Superb work by Rob Eaton in re-dbx-decoding the primary source that clears up the thudding low end on the original WBOTB? source with much better overall clarity. Excellent finish work by Wiz in blending the Aud patches, cleaning up rough spots and providing the U.S. Blues encore in the alternate SBD source. A must-have for any collector.

Notes

SBDMR > PCM > DAT > digital emphasis decode > D->A conversion > DBX Decode > digital mixing console (level adjustments > DAT > DAT (master clone)> WAV > additional editing (AUD patching, pop/glitch removal, etc.) > SHN. Digital encoding and DBX decoding by Rob Eaton; CD editing and mastering by The Wizard.